Inverness Fire Service employee Duncan MacAulay hopes to prove there is life after transplants by creating Scotland football team to compete in European Championships

Inverness: Duncan MacAulay is on a mission. He’s creating a football team made up of transplant recipients. They’ll compete in the European Championships this April. It’s a big deal, especially since it shows life after transplants.

Duncan works for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. He had a heart transplant in February 2023. After seeing a World Cup for transplant football, he wondered why Scotland didn’t have a team. So, he decided to start one himself.

Since September, the team has been training monthly. Players travel from all over Scotland to join in. They recently played their first friendly matches in Birmingham, winning one and losing two. It was a busy weekend for everyone.

For Duncan, this team is more than just football. He wants to honor donor families and raise awareness about organ donation. He believes it’s important to talk about it, even if it’s not easy.

Duncan faced heart failure for four years before his transplant. He’s grateful for his second chance and wants to help others. He’s learning a lot about different types of transplants and their recovery challenges.

As the team prepares for the European Championships, they’ll face tough competition. Teams from countries like Spain and England will be there. But Duncan hopes the event will be emotional and meaningful for everyone involved.

He wants to show that life goes on after transplantation. It’s a chance to celebrate their journeys and inspire others. Duncan believes that sharing their stories can help raise awareness about organ donation.